French peace initiative should be specific: Palestinian official

A senior Palestinian official said Monday that the French initiative for resuming the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians should include specific contents and goals.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in an emailed press statement that in order to make the French peace initiative "successful, it should have an abiding mechanism for all parties."

Ashrawi's remarks were made during a meeting she held with senior French diplomats in the West Bank city of Ramallah. She said the French initiative should include a time schedule for ending the Israeli occupation.

She also said the Palestinian leadership expects the whole world's recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of this year.

The Palestinian leadership has earlier welcomed the French peace initiative, while Israel said it could be a reason for the Palestinians to foil the direct peace talks between the two sides.

Direct bilateral peace talks between the two sides stopped in the spring of 2014 after running for nine months. The talks ended following deep differences on issues related to expansion of settlements, borders and Israel's recognition of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders. Endit